FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 3173

Mitsubishi Electric Co-develops Touch-based Interface for Remote Controls to Enable Both Blind and Non-blind to Easily Operate Devices

- Highly User-friendly Interface Induces Touch -

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TOKYO, February 14, 2018 - Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that together with a school for the visually impaired it has designed an experimental remote-control interface that enables people to easily operate equipment by using their sense of touch to recognize the intuitive shapes and movements of various controls.

Examples of new interface used for air conditioner remote controller / Adjusting air force by sliding balls

The experimental remote-control interface for air conditioners was developed as a case study with the cooperation of teachers and students at a school for the visually impaired. The same principles of matching heights, shapes, etc. that the students learn at the school were adopted in developing the new interface. The unique interface uses distinctive shapes, positions and movements to signify the air conditioner's different modes and the status and operation of each function, enabling visually impaired people to easily confirm and adjust settings.

Training to match pegs and pipes of the same length / Training to match corresponding shapes and frames

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